Envelope sealer



Dec. 15, 1931. J, D, BRUcE 1,837,156

ENvELoPE sEALER Filed Deo. so, 1930 famsmm Patented Dec. 15., 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES D. BRUCE, F FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO J. WALTON TUTTLE, l Y OF FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS ENVELOPE SEALER Application led December 30, 1930. Serial No. 505,500.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, strong, durable and compact envelope sealer, adapted to moisten the gummed flap of'an envelope preparatory to pressing it against the back of the envelope, the

moistening operation being performed independently, the sealer being preferably adapted also to press the moistened llap against the envelope back by another operation.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,-'

Figure 1 is atop plan view of a sealer embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same. l ,Y

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figures 1 and Q.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Fi ure 5 is a perspective view of the base mem ier ofthe sealer.

Figure 6 is a top plan view, showing the operation of moistening the envelope ilap.

Figure 7 is a top plan view, showing the operation of pressing the moistened flap 5 against the envelope back.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the igures.

In the drawings, 12 designates a base which is preferably a discoidal metal plate, 13 designates an upwardly facing pad of absorbent 'inateriah such as felt or wicking, supported by the base and preferably separably secured thereto by' the bearing of its margin against the undercut ywall 14 of a preferably circular recess 15 formed in the upper side of the base.

16 designates a liquid reservoir secured at one'end to the base. The reservoir is preferably a metaltube and is preferably secured to the base by a neck 17 fixed, as by screws "1 18, to the base, and soldered or otherwise secured to an end portion of the reservoir.

To conduct water from the reservoir to the pad, I provide the base recess 15 with an eX- tension or branch 19 (Figure 5) extending 4: under the neck 17. Said extension may be conveniently made by drilling a cavity into the upper side of the base, and part way through its thickness and breaking through the adjacent wall of the recess 15. A duct 20 .3o formed in the wall of the reservoir and in the neck 17, discharges water into the extension 19, the water lowifig thence into contact with, and moistening the pad. To permit a sufliciently free flow of water from the reservoir, I provide an air inlet or vent 21 in the under side of the reservoir above the pad. Said vent is a small hole, too small to permit a flow of water and air through it in opposite directions at the saine time. It is spaced thus at a low point in the reservoir in order to be normally sealed by the water. However it permits air to enter when outflow through the duct 2() occurs. Although the vent may ...be located at any pointin the reservoir, I

prefer to place it not only at a low point in order to prevent a too copious flow through the duct 20, but also over the pad, in order that any water which might issue from the vent due to shaking or agitation of the implement will be absorbed by the pad and will not wet any part of the device.

vA space is left between the upper side ofy the pad and the under side of the reservoir. No pressure is applied by means of the reservoir to the flap, but in order to furnish the necessary pressure to insure suilicient moistening of the gummed area of the flap, I provide a presser in the form of a spring 25, which is secured at one of its ends to the upper side of the base near the rear end of the reservoir, by a screw 26, or other suitable fastening. The presser extends from the point of attachment' in a curve, or other desired location, beside the pad to the forward a side of the base, and its other end is bent up as shown by Figure 2, beside the reservoir plo provide a throat, giving entrance to the In using the sealer the reservoir is grasped between the thumb and fingers of the user and it is moved laterally over an envelope so held that its flap projects over the pad and under the reservoir with the gummed side neXt to the pad. This movement brings the spring retainer over the flap, causing the gummed surface thereof to be pressed with a light but sufficient pressure against the upper side of the pad. After the gummed face has been thus moistened, the sealer is passed a second time over the'envelope, this time on the outside of the flap, the flat and smooth under surface of the base then pressing the moistened sticky surface against the back of the envelope. The pressure thus applied may be continued and repeated as long, or as many times as the operator may consider necessary to make the union secure. Ordinarily however, two passes are sufHcient to moisten and seal an envelope, and they can be performed with the utmost ease and great rapidity. The disposition of the reservoir as a handle crossing the base thereof also facilitates this method of handling.

I claim: s

1. An envelope sealer comprising a base, an upwardly facing absorbent pad supported by the base, a liquid reservoir secured at one end to the base and extending across and slightly spaced from the upperface of the pad, and means for conducting liquid from the reservoir to the pad, the pad being adapted to moisten the gummed flap of an envelope passed between it and the reservoir.

2. An envelope sealer comprising a base, an upwardly facing absorbent pad supported by the base, a liquid reservoir secured at one end to the base and extending across and slightly spaced from the upper face of vthe pad, and means for conducting liquid from the reservoir to the pad, the pad being adapted tolmoisten the gummed flap of an envelope passed over it, the base having a y downwardly facing pressing face adapted to press said flap against the back of the envelope.

3. An envelope sealer comprising a base having a recess and an extension therefrom in its upper side, an upwardly facing absorbent pad secured in said recess, a neck fixed to and projecting upwardly from the base and covering said extension, a reservoir secured to said neck extending across and slightly spaced from the pad, the reservoir and neck being provided with a liquid duct communicating with the recess extension, said duct and extension conducting liquid from the reservoir to the pad.

4. An envelope sealer comprising a base, an absorbent pad mounted on the upper side of said base, a reservoir formed as a handle secured to the base and extending across the upper side thereof diametrally with a space between its under side and the pad wide enough and deep enough to place an envelope with the gummed side of said flap adjacent to the pad, the reservoir and base having a duct for conducting liquid from the reservoir to the pad.

In testimony whereof I have affixedmy signature.

JAMES D. BRUCE. 

